If downtown Oxford is a diamond in the rough, then the DDA certainly chose the right man to shape and polish it into a crown jewel.
Mark A. Young, owner of the downtown jewelry store bearing his name, was recently elected as the new chairman of the Oxford Downtown Development Authority.
A downtown property/business owner since 1999 and DDA member since November 2004, Young feels his ‘professional skills? and ‘business contacts? will be a benefit in his new position.
Describing himself as an independent person who’s ‘not politically motivated,? Young, of Lake Orion, is proud of the fact that he’s ‘not really beholden to anybody,? meaning his main focus is what’s in the downtown’s best interest.
Despite its previous problems and negative perceptions by the public, Young believes the DDA can work well and help the downtown.
‘If I thought I was wasting my time, I wouldn’t bother with it.?
His first priority is ‘to get (the authority) functioning as efficiently as possible? and ‘structurally sound? so it can start being more proactive and ‘a little bit more creative.?
In the past, the DDA has been a largely passive body, reacting to situations around it.
‘It’s all been basically management by crisis,? Young said.
By mid-summer, Young hopes to turn the authority’s board of directors ? ‘the backbone of the DDA? ? into a ‘working board? with a ‘functioning treasurer? and ‘functioning secretary.?
Until recently, the board ‘hasn’t been functioning the way it should,? according to Young.
Previously, positions like treasurer and secretary were ‘more in title than actual functioning jobs? and the board was basically letting too much of the work fall to the executive director, Young said.
‘There are a lot of areas in that authority that have been neglected over thelast few years,? he said.
Now, Young said, ‘We’ve got a good board in place? with a new treasurer Paul Cervenak, new secretary Sue Bossardet and new vice chair Lisa Farlin rounding out the officers.
Once the board is working the way it’s supposed to, Young said the DDA, village council, chamber of commerce and other groups can develop a ‘cohesive picture? and ‘common goal of what we want this town to be.?
‘If we don’t get a grip on it, we are going to have a mess because the growth is coming,? Young said. ‘It’s just a matter of if we’re going to be prepared for it or not.?
Young said the downtown’s biggest positive right now is the ‘great amount of interest from outside developers that would like to make this their home.?
‘We’re all being approached by people who are taking an interest in this town,? he said. ‘They see great potential here.?
The ‘biggest obstacle? downtown faces is traffic on M-24, according to Young.
‘We have to look at every measure to get (the traffic) slowed down, calmed down and make (the downtown) a little bit more people friendly,? he said.
Constructing a boulevard on M-24, adding another traffic signal, installing a crosswalk between the Starbucks and Oxford 7 Theater, getting the crosswalk at Burdick and M-24 straightened ? these are some of the things Young would like to see.
‘I think absolutely we could use at least one more light,? he said.
Despite the problems associated with all the traffic, Young is glad it’s here.
‘It’s wonderful that we have traffic because if there was no traffic going through, we would all be sitting dead in the water,? he said.
As for the ‘perception? the downtown has a ‘parking problem,? Young said, ‘Until we don’t have a place to put cars, we don’t have a parking problem.?
Although his jewelery business has prospered nicely downtown, Young measures his success in relationships, not just dollars and cents.
‘I have made a lot of great new friends. This town’s full of very fine people.?